Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Augustyn happy with role on Hounds

Scott Augustyn knew exactly what he was getting into when he decided to play for the Hartland Hounds this season.

When the team started to shake out into a Howell High School reunion, complete with the coaching staff, Augustyn couldn’t sign with the Hounds fast enough.

“Coach (Randy) Montrose has been my coach for the past three years and he is a great coach,” said the 18-year-old Augustyn. “When I found out he was creating a junior team, I was committed.”

A steady defenseman, Augustyn said his years at Howell High readied him for the junior hockey style of game.

“Howell prepared me for this year because we ran the same systems that we run this year,” Augustyn said. “My role on the team this year is to be a solid defenseman and rack up some points. Playing with a group of guys such as the Hounds can really boost your confidence because everyone is there to move on and help one another.”

And even after the Hounds tasted defeat for the first time last Wednesday in an overtime loss against the Michigan Ice Dogs, Augustyn said that may not have been such a downer of a game.

“It's always hard to lose, especially since our record has been so good,” said Augustyn. “I think we needed to lose and we needed to see that we can be beat by a team. Now, we can better prepare for future opponents. I think a key component to our success lately has been buying into the systems that we have been taught.

“If we work as a team and move the puck, I think we can win every game. We definitely have the talent.”

TRANSACTION: Hartland signed forward Collin Myers on Monday. The 19-year-old Myers is another Howell High School alumnus who is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night against the Ice Dogs at the Wayne Community Center.